"
"You state the case very clearly," the pedant said as he paused, "and
make the evil very apparent, but you don't say a word about the remedy."
"My idea is," rejoined Herode, "to stop at the first village we come
to and give an entertainment. All work in the fields is at a standstill
now, and the peasants are idle in consequence; they will be only too
delighted at the prospect of a little amusement. Somebody will let
us have his barn for our theatre, and Scapin shall go round the town
beating the drum, and announcing our programme, adding this important
clause, that all those who cannot pay for their places in money may do
so in provisions. A fowl, a ham, or a jug of wine, will secure a seat in
the first row; a pair of pigeons, a dozen eggs, or a loaf of bread, in
the second, and so on down. Peasants are proverbially stingy with their
money, but will be liberal enough with their provisions; and though
our purse will not be replenished, our larder will, which is equally
important, since our very lives depend upon it. After that we can push
on to Poitiers, and I know an inn-keeper there who will give us credit
until we have had time to fill our purse again, and get our finances in
good order."
"But what piece can we play, in case we find our village?" asked Scapin.
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